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380 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
" Yet all this was, in so far, only the outward part
of religion.
I found the Bible required of me not
only change of mind but of feelings.
I began after
that to pray more in secret, and I read the Bible for
what it had to say to me as a needy soul and as a
helpless sinner. As I read it and compared myself
with the sinless Jesus, and saw myself in the light
of God's holiness, I became conscious of many de-
fects, and finally, after long struggle, of the fact
that I was a miserable offender in God's sight. This
was at first an awful blow to my pride, and then this
strong sense of sin put me almost in despair of entering
into the kingdom of the holy ones. This lasted
some time, until I found to my joy
that faith in the
Saviour is the living principle of salvation. That
verse in Romans, '
Being justified by faith, we have
peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ,'
became my favorite ; and I think now that faith
brings hope, and hope endurance, which by the grace
of God will enable me to continue in the faith to the
end. I am resolved to lead my whole life as it be-
comes a Christian, wherever I am or shall be, depending
upon the mercy and guidance of God.
" Now that I am a member of Christ by faith, now
that a native Japanese Christian Church has been
established in Japan, I have more hope for my country
than ever. How wonderfully God has given me
iny heart's desire, even as a Japanese, and answered
the prayers of all who are loyal to our Mikado and
imperial government ! For now the object I long
sought has been attained ; the merchant is honored,